Wall construction



J. A. LANNERT'.

WALL CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, I919.

Patented June 29, 1920.

NEYG.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. LANNERT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

WALL CONSTRUCTION.

Original application filed October 26, 1917, Serial No.

Specification bf Letters Patent Patented June 29,1920.

198,583. Divided and this application filed m 17,

1919. Serial No. 311,495.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. LANNERT, a citizen of the United 5tates,-and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a newand useful Im provement in lVall Construction, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention beingherein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present ii'nprovements, relating as indicated to bi'i'ilding blocks or tile, have more especial regard to a form of building tile designed for the constriilction of houses and like structures, which will present an attractive appearance, and yet be comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. Most of the forms of building tile that have heretofore come into general use are those en'iployed in the construction of plaster or stucco houses, where a coating of plaster or cement is applied to both sides of the "all, brick sometimes being used to face the exterior. This application is a division of application Serial No. 198,583, filed October 26, 1917. The object of the present invention is to provide a block or tile,'which will itself constitute the exterior face of the wall, and at the same time be adapted to re-- ceive a coat of plaster or cement on its interior face. A further object is to provide a block or tile that, while cheap to produce and easy to lay, can nevertheless be interlocked so as to render the wall strong and abundantly able to carry the joists. My present improved construction of tile, moreover, is adapted to be laid over a door or window after the fashion of an arch; furthermore, the interior structure of the block or tile is such that not only is it reinforced and strengthened by appropriate partitions, but the latter are so arranged as to insure the draining to theoutside wall of any water that may get into the interior of the tile.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related objects, the invention, then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but

one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Figure 1 is a broken sideelevation of a section of wall constructed of my improved blocks or tile; Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same taken on the plane indicated by the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section ofsuch wall taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3, Big. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a specially molded corner block designed for use in conjunction with my tile; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a specially molded intermediate block which serves to join successive tile in the same course together Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partly in sect-ion, of my improved tile with a modified form of such last mentioned block, such as will he used at the end of a course, not the corner of the building; Fig. 7 is an elevation of a doorway or like opening, as formed out of my improved tile; and Fig.8 is an end view of a special form of block showing the manner in which a joist or like timber is supported in a wall constructed of my improved building tile.

The tile or building block 1, which constitutes the principal element used in the construction of a wall embodying my invention is of elongated rectangular form, provided on its outer surface with longitudinally extending, 2". 6. horizontal, grooves 2 about onehalf inch deep and one-half inch high, to represent a raked out mortar joint, and on its inner surface with small grooves or scratches 3 to assist the plaster to stick. The top face of each tile is provided with a central longitudinal rib 4, preferably of the V- cross-section shown, and the bottom with a corresponding groove 5 into which such rib will fit and thus aline the top tile with the one beneath. In addition each tile is provided on its top and bottom faces with two shallow grooves 6, one on each side of the aforesaid rib or groove as the case may be, which shallow grooves provide a space for the introduction of a mortar layer, as clearly shown in Big. 2, that serves to cement the successive courses together.

Interiorly thetileis provided with longitudinally extending partitions, as shown in Figs. 2 and3, 'one;( 7 vertically disposed, and the other transversely, the portion of the transverse partition lying between the'F'Fig. 7.

vertical partition and the outer face of the tile inclining downwardly toward such outer face so as to assist in draining any water that might collect above this partition toward such outer face rather than inwardly.

It will be obvious that a tile of the construction just described can be extruded in the usual manner, with all of the grooves, ribs, and interior reinforcing partitions complete. The length of the tile may be varied to suit building operations of different kinds, as also to modify the ornamental effect produced by the grooves 2 on the outer faces of the tiles.

For use in conjunction with the tile just described, I employ reinforcing blocks of various kinds, as shown in Figs. 4:, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The one shown in Fig. 5 is in effect a rectangular plate 10 with external grooves 11 similar to those found on the tile, and in addition with projections 12 on its two flat faces adapted to be inserted into the juxtaposed properly spaced ends of two alined tile in the same course. These projections are interrupted as at 13 to receive the partitions 7 and 8 of the tile. There is also a shoulder 14 in connection with each such projection that forms a stop, and thereby leaves a space for mortar to be inserted between the tile and block. The effect of assembling together the tile and intermediate blocks, as shown in Fig. 1, is to present a wall not only with horizontal grooves simulating raked out mortar joints, but also with similar vertical grooves intersecting the horizontal grooves in such a manner as to impart a pleasing appearance to the struc ture.

In the case of the corners of the build ing, a modified form of block 15, in all essentials, however, similar to that just described, is employed. Such a corner block, as illustrated in Fig. 4: is of general cubical form. having on two adjacent faces interrupted projections 16 and shoulders 17 similar to those on the opposed faces of the block just described, and adapted to interfit with the adjacent tile in the same fashion.

Likewise, for the end of the course as at a door or other opening, a block 20 is employed similar in all respects to that used between successive tile in the course, but with the face that is designed to be exposed with this in view instead of with the projection and shoulder of the regular block. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 6, such end block has that portion 21 of its exposed face which will be covered by the door or window frame left smooth, the remainder being grooved to correspond with the external faces of the tile proper.

A modification introduced in the form of the tile, where the latter is used to put an arch over a door or window, is shown in In other words, a buttress block 22 is placed in the proper course on each side of the opening, whether for door or window, such block having its face which is disposed toward the opening in question, formed on an angle, and provided with projections similar to those on blocks 10. Two specially formed tile adapted to interfit with this buttress and an intermediate key block 24 complete the arch, as will be readily understood. Preferably the outer faces of these buttress and key blocks, as well as of the special tile that go with them, will be left smooth instead of being grooved as in the case of the tile used in the body of the Wall.

The manner in which joists or other timbers are supported in a wall constructed of my improved tile is clearly shown in Fig. 8. In other words, in the course that lies in the plane of such joists, the intermediate blocks 25, instead of being of general square outline, as shown in Fig. 5 for example, have one corner cut off so as to leave an angular recess 26 in the assembled condition of the parts adapted to receive the corresponding end of the joist 27, which is stepped into such recess.

In utilizing the foregoing described tile and special blocks in actual building operations, the course will be started at a corner with one of the blocks 15 illustrated in Fig. 4. After such block is set in place mortar will be applied to the projections on its two adjoining faces, and tiles 1 fitted in place over such projections. An intermediate block 10, of the sort illustrated in Fig. 5, is then placed in the open end of each such tile, mortar having first been properly applied to the projections on the respective faces of such block, and the course then continued with successive tile and blocks until either the next corner is reached, or if a door or window opening intervenes, the last tile is closed with an end block 20 of the sort illustrated in Fig. 6. Successive courses are built up in the same fashion.

It will be understood that while my improved tile will preferably be made of clay, which may be either glazed or unglazed in the burning, such tile may also be made of cement. This is particularly true of the blocks 10, 15 and 20, which, for the purpose of varying the ornamental scheme or for cheapness of manufacture, may be molded out of cement. The blocks, whether for' corner, intermediate, or terminal use, are preferably repressed in a proper press, whatever the material. Also it will be understood that these blocks may be fitted into tile in advance of their assembly at the site of the building; particularly where the blocks are made of clay they may be appropriately fitted into tile while still plastic and fired together, thereby rendering it nec- 130 essary to use mortar at only one end of each tile.

My improved form of tile, it will be seen, is easy to lay, cheap to produce, and forms a complete wall of a pleasing exterior, the ornamental character of which may be modified in. various ways, while the inside of the wall is ready for the plaster without the use of lath of any kind. At the same time the wall is abundantly strong for ordinary buildings, such as houses, providing a convenient support for the joists and readily adapted to have windows and doors formed therein.

It will be obvious also that the several different forms of interlocking blocks illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, may be utilized in connection with ordinary hollow building tile such as are at present manue factured in considerable quantities. These are like my improved tile in their general form, being substantially. square in crosssection and of various lengths, and with all four exterior surfaces perfectly smooth, usually glazed. It will be evident that by the use of blocks such as those just referred to with tile of this sort, a much superior construction of wall is obtainable than where they are laid, as is the present practice, one directly abutting the other in the course; for not only will they be locked together at their meeting ends, thus strengthening the wall, but the interior dead air space will be sub-divided, and the heat insulating character of the wall increased.

It should also be noted that in the case of a narrow door, window or other opening in the wall, it may not be necessary to employ the two specially formed tile 23 at all, but will suffice to use two buttress blocks 22, in conjunction with a single tile bridging the opening, as will be readily understood.

It should be explained in conclusion that mortar for joining successive courses may be applied by machine to the horizontal grooves G in the upper exposed faces of the last course laid, such strip or narrow layer of mortar being thick enough to fill the space in the grooves 6 on the under side of the superimposed course.

In Figs. 3 and 8 I have shown a wall constructed of my improved tile, and illustrating the use therewith of joists and the manner in which they are received in the wall. As is indicated in these figures the solid intermediate blocks are formed of a width equal to the width of the ordinary joist so that a joist can be set into the wall upon these solid column-like blocks where it is firmly supported and also held against lateral movement. Obviously the size of the solid block can be proportioned to correspond to the thickness of various sizes of joists for difl'erent types of buildings.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a wall structure, the combination of a plurality of hollow blocks arranged in superposed courses, solid blocks disposed between adjacent ends of said hollow blocks and interlocked therewith, and said solid blocks in the several courses being disposed one above the other and being supported on each other, thereby forming a series of solid vertical columns, said solid blocks and columns being sufliciently wide to receive thereon a joist.

2. The combination with a plurality of rectangular'hollow building tiles arranged in superposed courses; of interposed solid blocks interlocked with the adjacent hollow blocks, the solid blocks in the various courses being arranged in vertical alinement to form solid vertical joist-supportingcolumns, and v 

